Citizenship-A Curriculum

Unit 1: Getting to know America

Lesson 1: The Flag

Lesson Objectives: / Materials
Students will…
●  discuss what the US flag looks like and what it represents
●  define national, anthem, banner, pledge, allegiance, loyalty and read
the Pledge of Allegiance
●  read about Flag Day (homework) / ●  CPtT: 5-10, 40
●  CN: 7
●  Flag questions WS
●  Flags WS
●  The Star-Spangled Banner at http://americanhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/sing-the-national-anthem.aspx
“100 Civics Questions” covered in this lesson
52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
97. Why does the flag have 50 stars?
98. What is the name of the national anthem?
Suggested Tasks & Activities
●  Discuss the flag, i.e., what it looks like (50 stars, 13 stripes) and what it represents (50 stars = 50 states, 13 stripes = 13 colonies, nationalism, etc.), and related vocabulary (CPtT: 5-10). Fill in the Flag Questions WS and have different students read the questions and dictate the answer back to all students using the sentences found in CPtT: p. 177, numbers 3, 4, 5
●  Discuss the importance and meaning of the Star Spangled Banner (CN: 30) and Pledge of Allegiance (CN: 7). Play the video of the Star Spangled Banner and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
●  Worksheet- Unit 1 Flags - fill in sentences together about the United States flag
●  Worksheet- Unit 1 Flags- students draw their flag and fill in information about their home country’s flag
●  Students share about their flag with classmates


Citizenship-A Curriculum

Unit 1: Getting to know America

Lesson 2: The 50 States

Lesson Objectives: / Materials
Students will…
●  define government, capital, president, and governor
●  alphabetize the 50 states
●  be able to name the current president and MN governor
●  be able to identify the capital of the U.S. and MN / ●  CPtT: 11-13
●  U.S. Leaders
●  Venn Diagram
●  List of 50 States
“100 Civics Questions” covered in this lesson
28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?
43. Who is the Governor of your state now?
44. What is the capital of your state?
94. What is the capital of the United States?
Suggested Tasks & Activities
●  Explain that the US has a capital and that each state has a capital too (CPtT: 11). Ask students if they know what the capital of MN is.
●  Ask students if they know who our current president and governor are (CPtT: 12-13). Ask them what they think the president and governor do. Use a Venn diagram in small groups to discuss the differences and similarities.
●  50 state race! First discuss the pronunciation of each state and then put students in groups and have them race to alphabetize. NOTE: You will need to cut the 50 states into strips. (For another fun way to practice, you can play the “50 Nifty United States” song. Find it on www.YouTube.com).


Citizenship-A Curriculum

Unit 1: Getting to know America

Lesson 3: The US Government

Lesson Objectives: / Materials
Students will…
●  define democracy, voting, and elections
●  discuss the two major political parties in the US (republican/democratic)
●  read and answer questions about voting
●  identify the economic system of the United States
●  review key words and topics learned thus far / ●  CPtT: 14-19
●  Voting: http://resources.marshalladulteducation.org
/rs/l1/voting_pre-read.htm
“100 Civics Questions” covered in this lesson
11. What is the economic system in the United States?
45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?
46. What is the political party of the President now?
55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
Suggested Tasks & Activities
●  Review the 50 states with hangman or a spelling test.
●  Discuss democracy, voting, and the two major parties in the US political system (CPtT: 14-17). Feel free to mention that there are other parties, but that these two are the majority. Talk about the economic system of the United States.
●  Read the story on voting.
-  Extension: After answering the questions, ask students to circle all of the WH question words and come up with one extra one to ask a partner.
●  Review key words and topics (CPtT: 18-19).


Citizenship-A Curriculum

Unit 1: Getting to know America

Lesson 4: National Holidays

Lesson Objectives: / Materials
Students will…
●  review topics discussed thus far
●  discuss national holidays in the US and write about one holiday in their home country
●  review WH question words
●  dictate citizenship questions and answers / ●  CPtT: 20-21 (review)
●  CN: 135
●  Holiday Writing
●  Dictation Powerpoint
●  Unit 1 Intro Assessment
“100 Civics Questions” covered in this lesson
100. Name two national U.S. holidays.
Suggested Tasks & Activities
●  Review topics (CPtT: 20-21).
●  Discuss national holidays in the US and explain that they will need to know at least two for their test (CN: 135). After the discussion questions, give them the holiday writing worksheet. Review WH question words.
●  Dictation PowerPoint
●  Unit 1 Intro Assessment: First, type up the reading questions for the unit from the book Citizenship: Passing the Test. Then cut up the reading questions and give them to students to read aloud to the class. Dictate the answer to all students, and they write down their sentences on the quiz paper. Then, put students in pairs and give the first person the quiz for the unit. One student asks the questions and marks yes/no for his/her partner based on the answers in italics. Then the interviewer gives feedback to his/her partner on the questions they answered correctly and practices the questions they got wrong again. Then the partners switch and the other student asks the questions, marks the paper, and gives feedback.
Notes for Teachers
●  Another option for the dictation is CN: 58.

Minnesota Literacy Council

Citizenship-A Curriculum. CASAS 211 and above

March 2012